A nail-biting night for Mike Doyle ended in his favor Tuesday.
Doyle, the Republican president of Plum Council, won the race for the vacant district judge office serving Plum and Oakmont over Democrat Melanie Pallone by less than 100 votes, according to complete but unofficial Allegheny County election results.
Doyle received about 50.4% of the vote, while Pallone received 49.4%.
Doyle, 58, will replace Linda Zucco, who retired in October 2021 and became a senior judge in February.
Doyle ran for district judge after an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2022. He lost the race for the 12th Congressional District to Democrat Summer Lee.
“I’m clearly very ecstatic. I’m very excited,” Doyle said Tuesday night. “I’m looking forward to serving Oakmont and Plum as the next district judge.”
Doyle commended Pallone on a race well-run. She could not be reached for comment.
Pallone, 62, of Oakmont was at the end of her first four-year term on the Riverview School Board. She had not sought reelection to the school board.
Doyle, a member of Plum Council for 17 years and its president for 15 years, said he will resign from council at its meeting Monday. That will create a vacancy that will need to be filled by an appointment.
Doyle said he will take the qualification test to be a district judge in December. He had taken the test before but did not pass it. As an attorney, Pallone would not be been required to take the test.
“It’s a very rigorous test,” Doyle said. “I’m confident I will pass this test in December and not miss a beat and be ready to go in January.”
